I think you would have to look very hard to find another couple like Lisa & Justin. These two were so much fun. We hit it off with them right away and couldn’t wait to follow them around on their wedding day.

They decided to have their wedding celebration at the beautiful Henry Clay in Downtown Louisville. We were able to show up during their preparations and capture some of the moments before the ceremony. I love being in the room during the preparations because there is an excitement and anticipation in the air. Lisa and Justin were surrounded by their family and closest friends as they made their preparations for the ceremony.

While Lisa was with the hair stylist, her mother came into the room with a giant stack of Hallmark cards from Justin. Each one written to Lisa for some time in the future, like when she needs a laugh or when she lands her dream job. Here’s a peek at the card he wrote for her to open on their wedding day.

The ceremony was held in the Beaus Arts Ballroom under a hand-made Chuppah that Lisa’s grandmother had created years ago for all the future generations to gather under for their weddings. Lisa’s wedding ring was crafted from both of her grandmothers’ wedding rings. And then there was the vows. We had spoken with the two of them about writing their own vows and they decided to run with it. Their vows were personal and funny and touching all at the same time. The guests went from tears to laughter and back again. Bed, Bath and Beyond even got a mention in the vows! (but you’ll have to watch the film to see how that happened).

The Grand Ballroom at The Henry Clay is where the reception celebration was held. And since Lisa’s favorite food is pizza, they had the chef at Silver Spoon create gourmet pizzas for dinner. Yum!

I love outdoor weddings. I know you always run the risk of bad weather, but I think that the beauty is worth the risk. In the seven years we have filmed weddings, only one couple has ever had to use their backup plan. So when Jaime and Jeff told me their plans involved getting married outside at The Hurstbourne Country Club, I was excited. The setting is amazingly beautiful for an outdoor ceremony and we used it as the back drop for Jaime and Jeff’s first look.

Jaime and Jeff hired Nanz and Kraft Florists of Louisville, Kentucky to enhance the setting and as you can see in their wedding film, they did a fantastic job. As you watch their wedding video, check out the beautiful floral arrangements and decor. Nanz and Kraft really made their ceremony amazingly beautiful.

As a surprise for Jeff, Jaime invited the Cardinal Bird, the mascot for the University of Louisville athletics, to be a very special guest at their wedding reception. Jeff was very surprised and all the guests loved high-fiving and having their photo taken with him. He was definitely one of the highlights at the reception!

And after Jaime and Jeff had danced their reception away with their family and friends, we gathered everyone up for one of my favorite exits. Sparklers! To me, nothing says summer, outdoor wedding like an amazing sparkler exit. And because Jaime & Jeff had the extra long sparklers, they had plenty of time to dance around and enjoy the moment. And with their wedding film, they are going to be able to relive this moment and all the moments of their wedding day for years and years to come.

The story of Chris and Lindsay’s wedding day is so much more that this short film can tell. A wedding is more than just the ceremony and the reception; it is about more than two people coming together. It is about 2 families coming together. And I don’t mean family in the traditional sense. Family includes three kinds of people, those who you are born to, those who are born to you and those you let into your heart. Both Lindsay and Chris have enormous hearts as you can see from all those who surrounded them in love and support.

While they were getting ready for the ceremony in different suites at The Seelbach Hilton, both of them were able to spend intimate time with those closest to them while waiting for the ceremony time to arrive.

Chris and Lindsay’s ceremony in The Grand Ballroom was gilded with a Great Gatsby theme that really suited them. And when it came time for the exchange of vows, Chris chose to also say vows to Lindsay’s two amazing and adorable little boys. You could see that they are just as happy as their momma on this day.

Amanda and Tom, I can definitely say, had us smiling all day long. We showed up at The Seelbach Hilton that morning in time to capture the preparations for the big day. The rooms were filled with family, friends and lots of laughter.

They decided to see each other before the wedding, so we were able to set up a romantic first look in the foyer of The Grand Ballroom. Deciding to do a first look is a very personal decision, but one I usually prefer. I feel that the couple has the opportunity to have a few moments of quiet intimacy before the rush of all the days events begin. In their film, you can see the look of amazement on Tom’s face as he is taking in the beauty of his bride.

We have filmed many weddings in the Grand Ballroom before but Nanz and Kraft really outdid themselves this time. The draping across the ceiling was stunning; it was simple yet it made a big visual impact.

The reception was equally elegant but also a lot of fun. Tom’s best friend and Amanda’s sister both gave heartfelt toasts that had everyone in the room cheering. In honor of Tom’s family, later in the evening Amanda changed into a traditional Vietnamese wedding dress of red and gold. The celebration of these two people went on well into the wee hours of the night. It’s a night I know Tom and Amanda will remember for the rest of their lives!

We had been waiting for this wedding for almost 3 years. I met Misty’s mother at a bridal show back in 2009 and we’ve been working together on this event since then. We were so excited to finally see everything come together. All the anticipation did not disappoint. The Brown Hotel was an amazing venue choice. Misty and Nick are genuinely a fun couple. I LOVE how expressive Misty is-keep your eyes on her face! And they play so well off of each other that you can see immediately why they chose to get married. The reception was actually split into two parts. The first half, if you will, was the more traditional entrance with the toasts and cake cutting. While Nick and Misty shared their first dance, an event painter was creating a unique painting of the evening for them to keep. Then Misty surprised her mother by singing to her a very personal song. It was quite touching to see this interaction between mother and daughter. After a quick wardrobe change, Misty and Nick were reintroduced into the second half of the reception like a football team. It was high energy from this point on. Now usually when it’s time to throw the garter, the bride sits in the chair, but Misty put Nick in the chair and proceeded to sing a special song for him before putting her foot on his lap so he could remove the garter. It was AWESOME! And of course, since they are such huge Colts fans, how else would you throw the garter but to put it around a Colts football and pass it into the crowd. I know that their family and friends will be talking about their wedding day for years to come!

]]>http://folklorecinema.com/misty-nick-a-louisville-wedding-at-the-brown-hotel/feed/0131Sarah & Nathaniel-Your Life Will Not Go Unnoticed Because I Will Notice Ithttp://folklorecinema.com/sarah-nathaniel-a-louisville-wedding-at-whitehall-gardens/ http://folklorecinema.com/sarah-nathaniel-a-louisville-wedding-at-whitehall-gardens/#respondSat, 20 Oct 2012 22:11:04 +0000http://folklorecinema.com/?p=129

We have had some pretty awesome toasts and speeches this year, but the ones given at Sarah and Nathaniel’s wedding, were very impressive. Sarah told me that she had set the bar very high when she gave her Maid of Honor speech at her sister’s wedding the year before. She was really expecting an awesome toast from Beth and she did not disappoint. Her words made for such a perfect background to the beautiful imagery we had captured during the ceremony at Whitehall. It was a perfect fall day for an outdoor wedding. Nathaniel’s uncle was the officiate which added to the intimacy of the moment. The reception at The Brown was just as beautiful. The evening started with several touching speeches by family members to be followed up by an evening of fun and dancing to the music of the Wendy Reed Band.

Spindletop Hall is one of our favorite wedding locations in Lexington. This beautiful southern mansion is such an epic space; everywhere you look is impressive. Sarah and Jeremy or “Seramy” as their friends call them, are such a fun couple. The day was perfect for an outdoor ceremony. Sarah and Jeremy chose not to see each other before the ceremony, so when Sarah arrived with her dad in a horse-drawn carriage, it was quite magical. When we met with them, they really expressed that their family and friends are an incredibly important part of their lives. As they made their way around the reception room during dinner, there were hugs, laughter and high fives all around. Their first dance was equally impressive as they had taken lessons. Be sure you check out the reaction of the guests when Jeremy dips Sarah:)

Usually when we film a wedding, we have been chosen by the bride and groom. But with Scott and Lauren living out-of-state, the job of pulling together this incredible wedding fell to Lauren’s mother. We met Lauren’s parents at a bridal show in 2011 and I knew immediately that this was going to be a fun family to work with. They were both so full of life and so very excited for their daughter’s special day. Although the weather was a little wet, the ceremony was truly beautiful. The rabbi that officiated their Jewish ceremony was very personalized and it added to the intimacy of their ceremony. But as beautiful as the ceremony was, the reception was equally fun. As Lauren & Scott both graduated from Indiana University, they had an IU logo front and center on the dance floor to show their school spirit. Dinner was quickly followed by special toasts, one of which you will hear in their highlights film. Then it was party on as Endless Summer took the stage and really got the whole crowd out on their feet and having a great time.

]]>http://folklorecinema.com/lauren-scott-a-louisville-wedding-at-the-olmsted/feed/0123Tootie & Tommy-I Was There When Tommy Asked Tootie Out, And I Was There When Tootie Said Nohttp://folklorecinema.com/tootie-tommy-a-georgetown-ky-wedding-at-ward-hall/ http://folklorecinema.com/tootie-tommy-a-georgetown-ky-wedding-at-ward-hall/#respondFri, 14 Sep 2012 22:08:47 +0000http://folklorecinema.com/?p=121

We had been looking forward to this wedding for quite a while. Tootie contacted us because we had filmed a friend’s wedding and she loved their wedding film! We are always so honored when we hear this. Tootie and Tommy could not have been a sweeter couple. This wedding really had so many details with meaning, it was kind of overwhelming. Tootie’s mother had passed away several years ago. But Tootie and Tommy both really made her spirit present with them on their wedding day. As a wedding gift for Tootie, Tommy had a locket made with Tootie’s favorite picture of her mother. This beautiful locket was added to the bridal bouquet that Tootie carried down the aisle. As you walked down the aisle, there were pieces of logs set and on each stump there was a different photograph of Tootie’s mother along with a note or memory of a time spent with her. Each memory was written by a different family member. Tootie even had them turn all the photographs and memories so that she would be able to see them as she was walking up the aisle to meet Tommy. They had even reserved a seat in honor of Tootie’s mother at the ceremony. It was so incredibly touching.

The minister is a very close friend of both Tommy and Tootie, as you will hear in this excerpt from the ceremony. His words were so very personal and emotional that I caught myself wiping a tear away at one point during the ceremony. In our society today, we rarely seize the opportunity to speak what is within our hearts and when someone does that, it is that much more special. Andrew’s words are ones that I know Tootie and Tommy will treasure for a lifetime. It really put the emphasis on their wedding day on the things that matter. A wedding isn’t just about the dress or the flowers or the cake. A wedding is about gathering up the most important people in your life so that you can share with them the joy and celebration of your wedding day. It will be a day that Tootie and Tommy will remember for the rest of their lives.

Dominique and Johnathan’s wedding was nothing short of spectacular. The Cathedral of the Assumption is so beautiful. I love the painted ceiling and the feel of the church. Dominique and Johnathan had been in the choir together so the choir actually sang a special song for the couple during their ceremony. Sha Fox Events helped them pull this special day together and they made The Rivue look absolutely breathtaking. In Bloom Again provided the flowers and decorations and they really did an amazing job. It was a wonderful day for this couple as they begin their new life together.